Electric vehicle and roadway power system therefore

• US 20130037367A1
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jorge Aguilar
• Original Assignee: Jorge Aguilar
• Inventors: Aguilar, Jorge
• Granted Patent: US 8,418,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 191/22.C
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/36 with means for collecting current simultaneously from more than one conductor, e.g. from more than one phase
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/08 Arrangements for energising and de-energising power line sections using mechanical actuation by the passing vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/003 for vehicles using stored power (e.g. charging stations)
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An electrical vehicle transportation system that includes a powered roadway system having electrically conductive roadway segments that are engageable to a roadway surface, and an electrical vehicle having a control system and an energy harvesting system, the vehicle control system being programmed to energize roadway segments disposed within a defined vehicle envelope and de-energize the roadway segments prior to transitioning outside of the vehicle envelope when the vehicle is traversing the roadway.

Claims

1. An electrical vehicle transportation system, comprising:

an electrical vehicle and a powered roadway system,

said powered roadway system including an electrical vehicle engagement system, a roadway control system and roadway electrical energy source,

said electrical vehicle engagement system being in communication with said roadway electrical energy source and including at least two pair of elongated longitudinally and laterally spaced parallel electrically conductive roadway segments, said roadway segments being engagable to a roadway surface, said roadway segments including an electrically conductive layer having a top and bottom surface and an insulating layer disposed on said conductive layer bottom surface,

said longitudinal spacing of said roadway segments being determined as a function of first roadway electrical energy source voltage and a first length of said roadway segments,

said electrical vehicle including a vehicle power control system, an independent power source, an independent electrical energy source and an energy harvesting system, said vehicle electrical energy source having sufficient electrical energy to power said vehicle power source upon command of said vehicle power control system,

said electrical energy harvesting system including at least one pair of roadway contacts having first and second ends, said first end of said roadway contacts including an electrically conductive region, said second end of said roadway contacts being releasably and rotatably engaged on each side of said vehicle and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to said lateral spacing of said conductive roadway segments, whereby said vehicle can be positioned on said roadway with said roadway contacts in contact with said electrically conductive layers of said roadway segments and, hence, whereby said vehicle energy harvesting system is coupled to said roadway electrical vehicle engagement system,

said vehicle energy harvesting system, when coupled to said roadway electrical vehicle engagement system, defining a first vehicle envelope characterized by substantially all electrical energy associated with said coupled vehicle energy harvesting system and roadway electrical vehicle engagement system being substantially contained within an area defined by said vehicle outer dimensions of said vehicle,

said vehicle control system being operatively connected to said vehicle electrical energy means and said vehicle energy harvesting means, and in communication with said roadway control means when said vehicle energy harvesting system and roadway electrical vehicle engagement system are coupled, said vehicle control system being programmed to release said roadway contacts upon receipt of a first control signal, whereby said vehicle roadway contacts are in contact with at least two parallel roadway segments, control transfer of electrical energy from said roadway electrical energy source to said vehicle when said vehicle energy harvesting system and roadway electrical vehicle engagement system are coupled, and, in conjunction with said roadway control system, when said vehicle energy harvesting system and roadway electrical vehicle engagement system are coupled energize first roadway segments disposed within said vehicle envelope and de-energize said first roadway segments prior to said first roadway segments transitioning outside said vehicle envelope when said vehicle is traversing said roadway, said first roadway segments being de-energized as a function of a first roadway segment longitudinal spacing.

4. The electrical vehicle transportation system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle control system energizes said first roadway segments when said vehicle energy harvesting system and roadway electrical vehicle engagement system are coupled and said vehicle control system receives a second control signal.

5. The electrical vehicle transportation system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle electrical energy harvesting system includes at least two pair of roadway contacts.

6. The electrical vehicle transportation system of claim 1, wherein said conductive region of said roadway contacts comprises a rolling conductive region.

2. (canceled)

3. The electrical vehicle transportation system of claim 2, wherein said first roadway segment longitudinal spacing is in the range of approximately 5.75-6.25 in.